The kyphoscoliosis (ky) mouse is deficient in hypertrophic responses and is caused by a mutation in a novel muscle-specific protein

The ky mouse mutant exhibits a primary degenerative myopathy preceding chronic thoraco-lumbar kyphoscoliosis. The histopathology of the ky mutant suggests that Ky protein activity is crucial for normal muscle growth and function as well as the maturation and stabilization of the neuromuscular junction. Muscle hypertrophy in response to increasing demand is deficient in the ky mutant, whereas adaptive fibre type shifts take place. The ky locus has previously been localized to a small region of mouse chromosome 9 and we have now identified the gene and the mutation underlying the kyphoscoliotic mouse. The ky transcript encodes a novel protein that is detected only in skeletal muscle and heart. The identification of the ky gene will allow detailed analysis of the impact of primary myopathy on idiopathic scoliosis in mice and man.

Influence of variations in test methods on susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae to ampicillin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin

The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards standard broth microdilution method for testing the susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae to ampicillin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin was evaluated by altering one variable at a time. Variables that were tested included age of colony for inoculum preparation, inoculum density, test medium, incubation atmosphere, and incubation time. For the macrolide, azalide, and ketolide agents, incubation in 5 to 7% CO(2) most significantly affected the MICs, producing nearly twofold increases for clarithromycin and telithromycin and a greater than threefold increase for azithromycin. For ampicillin, a 10-fold increase in inoculum density increased the geometric mean MICs for beta-lactamase-negative strains from 1. 50 to 2.45 microg/ml. In addition, 206 H. influenzae strains were tested for their susceptibilities to the same drugs by the broth microdilution tests in two media, as well as by agar dilution tests, disk diffusion tests, and Etests, on six different agar media. The three standard methods with Haemophilus test medium (HTM) compared favorably with each other except for a high minor discrepancy rate (27%) by the disk diffusion test with ampicillin and clarithromycin. Agar dilution test MICs on the five comparative media were generally higher than those on HTM agar but were only rarely more than one twofold concentration higher. Etest MICs of azithromycin and telithromycin were more than twofold higher than agar dilution and broth microdilution MICs on HTM; ampicillin Etest MICs were nearly twofold lower. The use of media other than HTM agar appears to have a minimal effect on susceptibility test results for the ketolide, azalide, or macrolide drugs that we tested against H. influenzae.

In vitro activity of gemifloxacin against contemporary clinical bacterial isolates from eleven North American medical centers, and assessment of disk diffusion test interpretive criteria

A total of 5499 contemporary clinical bacterial isolates were tested for susceptibility to gemifloxacin and four comparison agents by the broth microdilution method. Gemifloxacin activity against Enterobacteriaceae was generally comparable to that of ciprofloxacin and trovafloxacin, but because the gemifloxacin susceptible MIC breakpoint is lower, the percent susceptible to gemifloxacin was less than that to the other quinolones for some species. All agents were less active against Pseudomonas spp. Gemifloxacin was the most active agent tested against Gram-positive species, though Corynebacterium jeikeium and vancomycin-resistant enterococci were uniformly resistant to all agents tested. With staphylococci, a bimodal distribution of gemifloxacin MICs corresponded with susceptibility or resistance to ciprofloxacin. The significance of ciprofloxacin-resistant staphylococci that have susceptible gemifloxacin MICs is not known at this time. Disk diffusion tests were performed simultaneously with gemifloxacin and trovafloxacin as a control drug. Gemifloxacin MIC-zone diameter scattergrams indicated that interpretive discrepancy rates based on previously proposed criteria when using < or = 0.5 microg/ml as the susceptible MIC breakpoint was within acceptable limits. However, with the currently proposed MIC breakpoint of < or = 0.25 microg/ml, tentative zone diameter breakpoints of > or = 22 mm for susceptible, 19-21 mm for intermediate and < or = 18 mm for resistant are proposed.

Isolation and characterization of Suv39h2, a second histone H3 methyltransferase gene that displays testis-specific expression

Higher-order chromatin has been implicated in epigenetic gene control and in the functional organization of chromosomes. We have recently discovered mouse (Suv39h1) and human (SUV39H1) histone H3 lysine 9-selective methyltransferases (Suv39h HMTases) and shown that they modulate chromatin dynamics in somatic cells. We describe here the isolation, chromosomal assignment, and characterization of a second murine gene, Suv39h2. Like Suv39h1, Suv39h2 encodes an H3 HMTase that shares 59% identity with Suv39h1 but which differs by the presence of a highly basic N terminus. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization and haplotype analysis, the Suv39h2 locus was mapped to the subcentromeric region of mouse chromosome 2, whereas the Suv39h1 locus resides at the tip of the mouse X chromosome. Notably, although both Suv39h loci display overlapping expression profiles during mouse embryogenesis, Suv39h2 transcripts remain specifically expressed in adult testes. Immunolocalization of Suv39h2 protein during spermatogenesis indicates enriched distribution at the heterochromatin from the leptotene to the round spermatid stage. Moreover, Suv39h2 specifically accumulates with chromatin of the sex chromosomes (XY body) which undergo transcriptional silencing during the first meiotic prophase. These data are consistent with redundant enzymatic roles for Suv39h1 and Suv39h2 during mouse development and suggest an additional function of the Suv39h2 HMTase in organizing meiotic heterochromatin that may even impart an epigenetic imprint to the male germ line.

Expression of the type I diabetes-associated gene LRP5 in macrophages, vitamin A system cells, and the Islets of Langerhans suggests multiple potential roles in diabetes

LRP5 is a novel member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family that is genetically associated with Type 1 diabetes. As a start to defining the normal function of LRP5 and to generate testable hypotheses of its potential role in Type 1 diabetes pathogenesis, we carried out an extensive expression analysis of this gene at the mRNA and protein levels in normal human, monkey, and mouse, as well as in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice at several stages of diabetes development. In all species, expression of LRP5 was found in four functionally important cell types: the distributed mononuclear phagocyte system, the islets of Langerhans, vitamin A-metabolizing cells, and CNS neurons. Given the critical role of macrophages in the onset and progression of islet cell destruction in Type 1 diabetes and the hypothesized role of retinoids as modifiers of diabetes progression, these findings suggest that LRP5 may confer Type 1 diabetes risk by altering the normal functioning of one or more of these regulatory systems. Specifically, given that the LRP5 polymorphisms associated with diabetes are in the promoter region of the gene, alterations in LRP5 expression may be responsible for diabetes susceptibility and therefore may be potential targets for therapeutic intervention. (J Histochem Cytochem 48:1357-1368, 2000)

Bactericidal activity of quinupristin-dalfopristin against Staphylococcus aureus: clindamycin susceptibility as a surrogate indicator

Of 516 Staphylococcus aureus strains tested, 97.1% were susceptible to quinupristin-dalfopristin, which was bactericidal for 22 (56%) of the 39 strains tested, comparable to vancomycin. All 17 clindamycin and macrolide-resistant strains were inhibited but not killed by quinupristin-dalfopristin, whereas all 22 clindamycin-susceptible strains (5 were macrolide resistant) were killed.

Daptomycin susceptibility tests: interpretive criteria, quality control, and effect of calcium on in vitro tests

Daptomycin MICs were determined for 844 Gram-positive bacteria in three concentrations of Ca(++) and compared with the MICs of vancomycin and teicoplanin. Daptomycin was twofold to fourfold more active against most species when tested in 50 microg/ml of Ca(++) than in 25 microg/ml. In 50 microg/ml of Ca(++) daptomycin was more active against methicillin-resistant staphylococci and vancomycin-resistant enterococci than teicoplanin or vancomycin; 100% of these isolates were susceptible to < or =2.0 microg/ml of daptomycin. Different lots of Mueller-Hinton agar were variable in Ca(++) content, and daptomycin disk diffusion zone diameters were affected, i.e., zones were 1 to 15 mm smaller on one lot of agar with only 6 microg/ml of Ca(++) compared to another lot with 28 microg/ml. The previously proposed daptomycin interpretive breakpoints performed satisfactorily when MICs were determined in Mueller-Hinton broth with 50 microg/ml of Ca(++) and when the agar gave appropriate zones with quality control strains. To define those control limits, replicate tests with four quality control strains were performed in ten laboratories using broth microdilution tests (with Ca(++) supplemented broth) and disk diffusion tests on Mueller-Hinton agar without cation adjustments.

Quality control limits for broth microdilution susceptibility tests of ten antifungal agents

Broth microdilution susceptibility tests of Candida species have now been standardized by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). An eight-laboratory collaborative study was carried out in order to document reproducibility of tests of Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 and Candida krusei ATCC 6258 by the NCCLS method. Replicate broth microdilution tests were used to define control limits for 24- and 48-h MICs of amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, voriconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, caspofungin (MK 0991), ravuconazole (BMS 207147), posaconazole (SCH 56592), and LY 303366.

A systematic, genome-wide, phenotype-driven mutagenesis programme for gene function studies in the mouse

As the human genome project approaches completion, the challenge for mammalian geneticists is to develop approaches for the systematic determination of mammalian gene function. Mouse mutagenesis will be a key element of studies of gene function. Phenotype-driven approaches using the chemical mutagen ethylnitrosourea (ENU) represent a potentially efficient route for the generation of large numbers of mutant mice that can be screened for novel phenotypes. The advantage of this approach is that, in assessing gene function, no a priori assumptions are made about the genes involved in any pathway. Phenotype-driven mutagenesis is thus an effective method for the identification of novel genes and pathways. We have undertaken a genome-wide, phenotype-driven screen for dominant mutations in the mouse. We generated and screened over 26,000 mice, and recovered some 500 new mouse mutants. Our work, along with the programme reported in the accompanying paper, has led to a substantial increase in the mouse mutant resource and represents a first step towards systematic studies of gene function in mammalian genetics.

Susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae to cefditoren, and provisional interpretive criteria

In vitro cefditoren antimicrobial activity was tested by broth microdilution and disk diffusion methods against 300 Streptococcus pneumoniae and 299 Haemophilus influenzae isolates. MICs were also determined for three comparison drugs. The MICs of cefditoren were very comparable to those of cefotaxime against both species. If penicillin-resistant pneumococci are to be considered not susceptible to cefditoren, the tentative MIC breakpoints for cefditoren of < or = 0.25 microg/ml for susceptible and > or 1.0 microg/ml for resistant could be selected. With these breakpoints, all penicillin-susceptible pneumococci were cefditoren-susceptible, as were 85% of penicillin-intermediate strains. Provisional zone diameter breakpoints would be > or = 26 mm for susceptible and < or = 20 mm for resistant. If penicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections are shown to clinically respond to cefditoren therapy, then a susceptible MIC breakpoint of < or = 1.0 microg/ml would be appropriate, with a corresponding zone diameter breakpoint of > or = 21 mm. A susceptible MIC breakpoint of < or = 0.5 or < or = 1.0 microg/ml is appropriate for H. influenzae, but lack of correlation between cefditoren MICs and disk diffusion zone diameters when testing H. influenzae leads us to make no recommendations at this time regarding cefditoren disk tests for H. influenzae.

Identification of two new Pmp22 mouse mutants using large-scale mutagenesis and a novel rapid mapping strategy

Mouse mutants have a key role in discerning mammalian gene function and modelling human disease; however, at present mutants exist for only 1-2% of all mouse genes. In order to address this phenotype gap, we have embarked on a genome-wide, phenotype-driven, large-scale N-ethyl-N--nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screen for dominant mutations of clinical and pharmacological interest in the mouse. Here we describe the identification of two similar neurological phenotypes and determination of the underlying mutations using a novel rapid mapping strategy incorporating speed back-crosses and high throughput genotyping. Two mutant mice were identified with marked resting tremor and further characterized using the SHIRPA behavioural and functional assessment protocol. Back-cross animals were generated using in vitro fertilization and genome scans performed utilizing DNA pools derived from multiple mutant mice. Both mutants were mapped to a region on chromosome 11 containing the peripheral myelin protein 22 gene (Pmp22). Sequence analysis revealed novel point mutations in Pmp22 in both lines. The first mutation, H12R, alters the same amino acid as in the severe human peripheral neuropathy Dejerine Sottas syndrome and Y153TER in the other mutant truncates the Pmp22 protein by seven amino acids. Histological analysis of both lines revealed hypo-myelination of peripheral nerves. This is the first report of the generation of a clinically relevant neurological mutant and its rapid genetic characterization from a large-scale mutagenesis screen for dominant phenotypes in the mouse, and validates the use of large-scale screens to generate desired clinical phenotypes in mice.

Informatics for mutagenesis: the design of mutabase--a distributed data recording system for animal husbandry, mutagenesis, and phenotypic analysis

The increasing use of high-throughput methods for the production of biologically important information and the increasing diversity of that information pose considerable bioinformatics challenges. These challenges will be met by implementing electronic data management systems not only to capture the data, but increasingly to provide a platform for data integration and mining as we enter the post-genomic era. We discuss the design and implementation of such a data capture system, 'Mutabase', as a model of how such electronic systems might be designed and implemented. Mutabase was created in support of a large-scale, phenotype-driven mouse mutagenesis program at MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell, in collaboration with SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London. The aim of this mutagenesis project is to make a significant contribution to the existing mouse mutant resource, closing the phenotype gap and providing many more models for fundamental research and disease modeling. Mutabase records experimental details at the 'point of generation' and provides a number of dissemination and analysis tools for the experimental data, as well as providing a means of assessing various aspects of progress of the program. Mutabase uses a hypertext-based interface to provide interaction between a number of intranet-based client workstations and a central industrial strength database. Mutabase utilizes a variety of techniques in order to implement the user interface system including Perl/CGI, Java Servlets, and an experimental CORBA server. We discuss the relative merits of these methods in the context of the need to provide sound informatics approaches for the support of systematic mutagenesis programs.

Implementation of a large-scale ENU mutagenesis program: towards increasing the mouse mutant resource

Systematic approaches to mouse mutagenesis will be vital for future studies of gene function. We have begun a major ENU mutagenesis program incorporating a large genome-wide screen for dominant mutations. Progeny of ENU-mutagenized mice are screened for visible defects at birth and weaning, and at 5 weeks of age by using a systematic and semi-quantitative screening protocol-SHIRPA. Following this, mice are screened for abnormal locomotor activity and for deficits in prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response. Moreover, in the primary screen, blood is collected from mice and subjected to a comprehensive clinical biochemical analysis. Subsequently, secondary and tertiary screens of increasing complexity can be used on animals demonstrating deficits in the primary screen. Frozen sperm is archived from all the male mice passing through the screen. In addition, tail tips are stored for DNA. Overall, the program will provide an extensive new resource of mutant and phenotype data to the mouse and human genetics communities at large. The challenge now is to employ the expanding mouse mutant resource to improve the mutant map of the mouse. An improved mutant map of the mouse will be an important asset in exploiting the growing gene map of the mouse and assisting with the identification of genes underlying novel mutations-with consequent benefits for the analysis of gene function and the identification of novel pathways.

Genomics meets genetics: towards a mutant map of the mouse

Phenotype-driven mutagenesis approaches in the mouse will deliver a vastly expanded mouse mutant resource and can be expected to lead to the identification of novel genes and pathways, enabling the emergence of new insights into mammalian gene function. In order for this goal to be realized, developments in genomics need to be harnessed to progress in mouse mutagenesis. We need firstly to generate a mutant map of the mouse, devising and employing rapid methods for the genetic mapping of the growing mouse mutant resource. Secondly, we need to be able to rapidly identify and assess candidate genes in the vicinity of the mapped mutations. Developments in mapping and genotyping technology are described that will potentially speed the construction of a rich mutant map of the mouse. In addition, the benefits of comparative sequencing of the human and mouse genomes are reviewed. The availability of both human and mouse genome sequences will underpin the evolution of a comprehensive and well annotated mammalian gene map that will significantly enhance our ability to move rapidly from mapped mutation to the identification of the underlying gene.

Effects of shaker-1 mutations on myosin-VIIa protein and mRNA expression

Numerous mammalian diseases have been found to be due to mutations in components of the actin cytoskeleton. Recently, mutations in the gene for an unconventional myosin, myosin-VIIa, were found to be the basis for the deafness and vestibular dysfunction observed in shaker-1 (sh1) mice and for a human deafness-blindness syndrome, Usher syndrome type 1B. Seven alleles of sh1 mice were analyzed to assess the affects of different myosin-VIIa mutations on both gene expression and tissue function. Myosin-VIIa is expressed in the inner ear and the retina, as well as the kidney, lung, and testis. Northern blot analysis indicated that myosin-VIIa mRNA expression, size, and stability were unaffected in the seven sh1 alleles. Immunoblot analysis showed that all seven alleles expressed some full-length myosin-VIIa protein. The range of expression, however, ran from sh1 [original], which expressed wild-type levels of protein, to two strains, sh1(4494SB) and sh1(4626SB), which expressed less than 1% of the normal level of myosin-VIIa protein. For the three alleles of sh1 that have been characterized and that have mutations in the motor domain, sh1 [original], sh1(816SB) and sh1(6J), the level of protein expression observed in these sh1 alleles correlated well with the predicted effects of the mutations on motor function. No change in retinal or testicular structure was observed at the light microscopic level during the life span of the seven sh1 alleles. Myosin-VIIa protein, when detectable, was observed to locate properly in the sh1 mice. On the basis of these results, we propose that the mutations in myosin-VIIa in the sh1 alleles leads to both motor dysfunction and to a protein destabilization phenotype.

Comparative genome sequence analysis of the Bpa/Str region in mouse and Man

The progress of human and mouse genome sequencing programs presages the possibility of systematic cross-species comparison of the two genomes as a powerful tool for gene and regulatory element identification. As the opportunities to perform comparative sequence analysis emerge, it is important to develop parameters for such analyses and to examine the outcomes of cross-species comparison. Our analysis used gene prediction and a database search of 430 kb of genomic sequence covering the Bpa/Str region of the mouse X chromosome, and 745 kb of genomic sequence from the homologous human X chromosome region. We identified 11 genes in mouse and 13 genes and two pseudogenes in human. In addition, we compared the mouse and human sequences using pairwise alignment and searches for evolutionary conserved regions (ECRs) exceeding a defined threshold of sequence identity. This approach aided the identification of at least four further putative conserved genes in the region. Comparative sequencing revealed that this region is a mosaic in evolutionary terms, with considerably more rearrangement between the two species than realized previously from comparative mapping studies. Surprisingly, this region showed an extremely high LINE and low SINE content, low G+C content, and yet a relatively high gene density, in contrast to the low gene density usually associated with such regions.

Topiramate modulates GABA-evoked currents in murine cortical neurons by a nonbenzodiazepine mechanism

PURPOSE

These studies further investigate the ability of topiramate (TPM) to enhance gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated inhibition through a benzodiazepine-insensitive pathway.

METHODS

Topiramate (30 and 100 microM) enhancement of GABA (1 microM)-evoked currents in primary cultures of mouse cortical neurons was studied by using whole-cell electrophysiologic techniques. Results obtained with TPM (30 microM) were compared with those obtained with clonazepam (CZP; 1 microM).

RESULTS

Topiramate enhanced GABA currents in a subset of cortical neurons tested. In addition, TPM enhanced GABA-evoked currents in CZP-insensitive neurons, and CZP was effective in a subset of TPM-insensitive neurons. Related studies in vivo demonstrated that intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of either TPM (25 mg/kg) or CZP (0.012 mg/kg) increases pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) seizure threshold. This effect of CZP, but not TPM, was reversed by the benzodiazepine (BZD) antagonist flumazenil (FMZ; 40 mg/kg, i.p.).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that GABA(A)-receptor sensitivity to TPM is not dependent on the presence of BZD sensitivity. Enhancement of GABA-mediated inhibition through a BZD-insensitive pathway may represent one mechanism through which TPM exerts its anticonvulsant action.

Critical fluctuations and quenched disordered two-dimensional charge stripes in La(5/3)Sr(1/3)NiO4

Using high-resolution x-ray scattering, we have demonstrated the existence of quenched disordered charge stripes in a single crystal of La (5/3)Sr (1/3)NiO (4) at low temperatures. Above the second-order transition critical scattering was observed due to fluctuations into the charge stripe phase. The charge stripes are shown to be two dimensional in nature both by measurements of their correlation lengths (xi(a) approximately 185 A, xi(b) = 400 A, and xi(c) approximately 25 A) and by the critical exponents of the charge strip transition. The charge stripe ordering did not develop long-range order even at low temperatures, indicating that the charge stripes are disordered and that the length scale of the disorder is quenched.

Towards new models of disease and physiology in the neurosciences: the role of induced and naturally occurring mutations

There is a dearth of good mouse models for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, the development of gene-targeted technology and the recognition of the importance of the mouse as a model organism have led to the development of a range of behavioural tests for mice. Spontaneous mutations in mice have already provided important information about the role of novel gene products in disorders such as epilepsy and deafness. This has provided the impetus to the establishment of large-scale mutagenesis programmes to generate new mutations. Tests of sensory and motor function have previously been most frequently used as these are simple to perform and the phenotypes are relatively obvious. Subtle phenotypes, of relevance to pyschiatric disorders such as anxiety and schizophrenia, can be detected using more complex tests. Screens such as prepulse inhibition and startle have been adapted for mice and these can be run with relatively high throughput using fully automated equipment. Other behaviours such as sleep and circadian rhythms, learning and memory and nociception can also be assessed. New technological advances in non-invasive imaging and neurochemical analyses have meant that these techniques can be readily applied to mouse phenotyping. The use of these screens together with mutagenesis is already beginning to increase the numbers of mouse models of potential relevance to CNS diseases.

Surface-enhanced and normal stokes and anti-stokes Raman spectroscopy of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Surface enhancement factors of at least 10(12) for the Raman scattering of single-walled carbon nanotubes in contact with fractal silver colloidal clusters result in measuring very narrow Raman bands corresponding to the homogeneous linewidth of the tangential C-C stretching mode in semiconducting nanotubes. Normal and surface-enhanced Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman spectra are discussed in the framework of selective resonant Raman contributions of semiconducting or metallic nanotubes to the Stokes or anti-Stokes spectra, respectively, of the population of vibrational levels due to the extremely strong surface-enhanced Raman process, and of phonon-phonon interactions.